DWP update on cut of Work Capability Assessments from Universal Credit | Personal Finance | Finance
A minister has issued an update on DWP plans following questions from MPs. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) revealed in the Pathways to Work Green Paper that it intends to scrap the Work Capability Assessment (WCA), with future eligibility for the new Universal Credit Health Element requiring claimants to be receiving a Daily Living award through Personal Independence Payment (PIP).
Responding in writing to Green Party MP Siân Berry, who enquired whether the WCA would be scrapped, Minister for Social Security and Disability Sir Stephen Timms confirmed that “work is continuing” to establish the specifics of how this overhauled system would operate, and that “discussions are also under way with the Scottish Government” regarding how the devolved and reserved systems would interact.
Sir Stephen went on to say: “We will set out further details of the reformed system, and the timing of WCA abolition, once we are in a position to do so.”
In another query, Lib Dem MP Lisa Smart questioned what service standards on timeliness are in place for making decisions on WCAs and what steps the DWP is taking to reduce these waiting times, reports the Daily Record.
Sir Stephen outlined how the WCA forms one element of the procedure for determining a Universal Credit or Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) benefit entitlement decision. He went on to explain: “Health Care Practitioners undertake the Work Capability Assessment and following this functional assessment make a recommendation to the department. Thereafter, a DWP Decision Maker reviews this recommendation and makes the decision on benefit entitlement.”
“We monitor customer journey times for WCAs, deploying additional staff if required, prioritising urgent cases and addressing backlogs. We consistently prioritise assessments for new claims to minimise waiting times.”
Sir Stephen also revealed that owing to “unforeseen high levels of WCAs” needed in late 2024, a backlog of reassessment cases accumulated from people reporting changes to their condition before May 2025.
He said: “We are working with suppliers to increase capacity for clearing this backlog, including the acceleration of the recruitment of assessors. There are no backlogs within the DWP Decision Making stage.”
The DWP has also recently confirmed that all ESA claimants who haven’t submitted their Universal Credit claim within a fortnight of their migration notice deadline will ‘automatically enter the Enhanced Support journey’.
The Department described this journey as one which “provides tailored and flexible assistance, including phone calls and home visits, to support the migration process”.
Additional DWP support also includes:
- Enhanced Support Journey for vulnerable claimants, including proactive calls, text reminders, and home visits.
- Financial safeguards such as Transitional Protection and two-week run-on payments for ESA claimants.
Digital and manual process enhancements to ensure accurate transitional protection calculations and prevent payment delays. The DWP said that it will persist in its efforts to “review and iterate our services to optimise our services and any further feedback is welcomed”.
